BUSINESS DIGEST ||

Marketing strategy

YOUNGSTOWN

PALO Creative has been selected by The Hope Foundation of the Mahoning Valley to lead its marketing strategy this year, including social media management and website development.

The Hope Foundation’s goals for the year include developing its new DreamCatchers for Kids initiative, which was created to create experiences to help enhance the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

Other clients PALO added this year include Braking Point Recovery Center, Edison Landscape & Deck Lighting, Selfie Scene, Apex Psychological Care and Memory Center and Payroll Pros LLC.

‘Power Lunch’ event

HOWLAND

The Youngstown/ Warren Regional Chamber will have a “Power Lunch” program from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 25 at Leo’s Ristorante, 7042 E. Market St. Each month, the chamber schedules Power Breakfast, Lunch or After Hours to bring members together to start building meaningful networks. Time and space is limited, and these events often sell out. Advance registration is required. The event is free to attend, and attendees order off a limited menu. Registration is required to Mary Beth Wyko at marybeth@regionalchamber.com by May 24.

New website

COLUMBIANA

Humtown Products, a product manufacturer of sand cores and molds that services the foundry industry, just launched its new website at humtown.com.

Humtown’s website includes company news and announcements, a description of industry memberships and company partnerships, an employment page for interested job seekers and an online UNItube Blow Tube System store. Customers can purchase Humtown’s patented UNItubes, UNIplugs, UNInuts and related products, plus request a quote on sand cores, sand molds and patterns directly from the site.

Grant applications

COLUMBUS

The Walmart Foundation will begin accepting grant applications to its State Giving Program on Monday. Ohio nonprofit organizations can apply for grants between $25,000 and $200,000 to support programs that focus on hunger relief. The deadline to submit grant requests for this cycle is 11:59 p.m. Friday.

In 2016, Ohio-based charities including Greater Cleveland Foodbank, Meals on Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties, Mobile Meals of Toledo, the Foodbank Inc. in Dayton and Veterans Outreach in Youngstown received a total of $1,200,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation State Giving Program.

Nonprofits featured

COLUMBUS

Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted recently announced the Ohio Business Profile program will feature nonprofit businesses throughout May. There are more than 65,000 active nonprofit corporations filed with the Secretary of State’s office. The nonprofit sector is one of the largest employers in the state, employing roughly 480,000 people.

Revenue report

HARRISBURG

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board recently posted the monthly report for total gross revenue and tax revenue generated from the play of slot machines at casinos in the state during April. The combined gross revenue from slot machines at the 12 casinos in April of this year was $205,702,752, 1.58 percent lower than the April 2016 gross revenue figure of $208,999,688, according to the report.

State/wire report